Policies & Expectations

Pacific Elementary School Policies

PARENT / TEACHER COMMUNICATION

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

PACIFIC’S RULES AND SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

PARENT / TEACHER COMMUNICATION

Report Cards
Students will receive three report cards during the school year: November, March and June. Report cards cannot be distributed unless all scrip orders, lunch borrows and library books / textbooks have been paid.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are held at the end of the first reporting period (December 4-8).  Children will be on minimum day schedule during this week to allow for conferences (see Daily Schedule for times). An optional box lunch may be ordered ahead of time.

Parents may sign up for individual conference times at Back-to-School Night.  In grades 1-5, the child will bring home his or her report card prior to the conference date. Parents should bring the card to the conference. The conference provides parents an important opportunity to exchange information with the teacher concerning their child's progress in school.  We expect divorced parents to attend one conference together.  These conferences are very important to the overall achievement of each student.   Parents may request additional conferences with the teacher, as needed.  Parents of students with special needs may attend a Student Study Team (SST) meeting involving parents, teachers, the Principal or Educational Support Specialist, counselors, psychologists and other specialists, as appropriate.
 
Working Together To Solve Problems
If a problem or concern arises regarding your child, talk it over first with your child's teacher.  Please send a note or leave a voice message asking for an appointment or a return phone call from the teacher. You can also email your child's teacher.  Please do not send long letters or emails.  Direct conversations are best.  If you still have a concern after speaking to the teacher, please set up an appointment through the office to speak with the Principal. We will do all we can to address your concerns quickly and satisfactorily.

Back-To-School Night
Back-to-School Night is held in September and gives you an opportunity to meet your child's teacher, see the classroom and listen to information about the curriculum and expectations for the year.  This meeting is attended by parents only. No children please. This meeting is very important to help you to understand your child's educational program.  Please make every effort to attend.  If one or both parents cannot attend, please ask another parent to share the information with you.

Open House
Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, 2007.  The time will be confirmed in your Monday Messenger.  This is your opportunity to visit the classrooms with your child.  This is not a time to discuss your child's individual progress.  (See Working Together and Parent-Teacher Conferences.)

Testing
Standardized tests are scheduled to be administered during the first two weeks of May.  Please do not schedule family trips or doctor appointments during this period, or during the final review period at the end of April.

At Pacific School, the California Content Standards are taught all year long.  (Please see the MBUSD website for a complete listing of these standards.) “Testwiseness” is also taught throughout the year.

Please make sure your child has a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast each day. The best preparation that you can give your child for testing is a positive attitude. As he/she leaves the house, give a word of encouragement and a big hug.

The attitudes children develop about testing can be as important to the child's future success as their test scores.  Do they like or dislike testing? Do they consider themselves good test takers? When the test results come back, we hope you will emphasize the positives and tell your child, "Wow, you're a good test taker."

Religion and the Public Schools
The use of religious symbols, provided they are used only as examples of cultural or religious heritage, is permissible as a teaching aide or resource.  Religious symbols may be displayed only on a temporary basis as part of the academic program.  Students may choose to create artwork with religious symbols, but teachers should not assign or suggest such creations.  Information about treatment of religious issues and the observance of religious holidays in the public schools can be found in a brochure available in the school office entitled "A Parent's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools".

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Regular Attendance Is Essential For Learning
Regular attendance is critical to your child's education.  Disruptions to your child's school attendance can have a significant impact on his or her academic performance. Please do not schedule extended family vacations during school time.

What To Do If Your Child Is Going To Be Absent
1)     Call the school office (310-546-8044, ext. 5761) before 10:00am. every day your child is absent.  Please give the student's name, grade, teacher and reason for absence on the voice mail if you call before 8:00am.  This may appear to be an inconvenience, but we want to know that your child is safe at home due to an illness.
2)     Let us know if your child has a contagious disease, such as chicken pox, measles or mumps. We will watch for symptoms in other students and notify their parents when appropriate.
3)     If you have not called in your child's absence, send a note when your child returns to school. Include your child's name, grade and teacher, date(s) of absence, reason for absence and your signature.  This information is needed for our attendance reports and state funding.  The State auditors are very thorough in checking these notes.

A child who was absent due to a fever must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Please notify the school of any anticipated absence due to out-of-town trips, family emergencies or medical or dental appointments.

When Students Are Late
We expect students to arrive at school on time.  Tardy students miss learning time and disrupt the learning of others.  If your child is going to be tardy, please send a note to let us know why he/she is not on time.   Upon arrival, tardy students must check in at the office.   If your child has several tardies, we will contact you personally.  A formal Excessive Tardy/Absence letter from the School Attendance and Review Board (SARB) will be sent home in October, January and May.  Please teach your child punctuality.

Picking Up Your Child Early
If you need to take your child out of school before the end of the school day:

1)    Send a note in with your child stating the time you wish to pick up your child and the reason for the early release.
2)    Go to the school office, not the classroom. Teachers may not release a student to a parent directly from the classroom.
3)    Sign the release book. We will call the classroom and your child will meet you in the office.

This simple procedure protects your child.  We will not release a student to anyone except the parent, legal guardian, or a person you have authorized to pick up your child.  Please list all authorized individuals on the emergency card.

Attendance Alert!
Every day your child is absent, the District loses $35.  The state funds that we receive for students’ daily attendance will NOT be paid for either excused or unexcused absences.  Please see that your child attends class every day.  If your child does need to be out of school, please seriously consider making a contribution of $35 to the Manhattan Beach School District for each day your child has a non-medical absence.

If your child must be out for part of the day due to illness, medical/dental appointments, bereavement, or on religious holidays, please have your child return for the remainder of the day.  Only then does the school district receive funding for that day.

Student absences for religious observance do not count against a perfect attendance record.  If possible, please return your child to school for a portion of the day so we can obtain funding.

Independent Study Contracts
Independent study contracts are available if an important family trip will cause your child to miss five or more days of school.

Independent study contracts allow the school district to receive State Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funds of approximately $35/day when your child is on a family trip.  To obtain an independent study contract:

Step 1:        Pick up a form in the office at least one week in advance, and complete pg. 1.  The school cannot meet last minute requests.
Step 2:    Return completed form to the office for the Principal to approve.
Step 3:    The teacher will provide assignments and send home with child.
Step 4:    Complete independent study and send form and all work back to school within one week of return.

Dismissal
Children are to leave the classroom and hall areas promptly upon dismissal.  Students waiting for their parents should wait quietly in the Zone.  Parents, please pick up your students promptly. 

We love having parents chat and make new friends before and after class, but please do so away from the classroom doors, windows or patios.  There is plenty of space on the sidewalks, hallways or playgrounds.

Playground Supervision Before and After School
We ask that all students, parents and caregivers wait in the south playground area rather than in the halls or outside the classrooms, so that we keep noise and distractions away from the classrooms. 

Students are supervised on the south playground from 8:00-8:10 am.  Please do not bring your children to school earlier than 8:00 am.

Student Emergency Card
On the first day of the school year, you will receive an emergency card.  Please complete this card immediately and return it to the school. If your child becomes ill or has an accident at school, we will contact you using information from the Student Emergency Card.

It is important that you list three individuals to call in case of an emergency.   At least one of those individuals should be within walking distance of school in case of an earthquake. It is your responsibility to keep the emergency card current at all times, including any changes of phone numbers.

We suggest you make a copy of your child's emergency card to keep in his/her backpack. This will ensure that he/she will have access to emergency numbers at all times and for any situation.

Students Withdrawing From Pacific School
Please give the office a minimum of one week's notice before withdrawing a student from school. We ask parents to verify that all library and textbooks have been returned prior to withdrawal. The child's cumulative folder will be sent to the child's new school when a written request is received.

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

Health Staff

Our school health technician is Mrs. Donna Kim (ext. 5763).  Our district nurses are on call for emergencies. We will notify you if your child becomes ill or if we detect a change in your child's health.  We may ask you to follow up with a doctor's examination.

Health Procedures

Students with a contagious or infectious disease or a temperature over 100 degrees will not be allowed to remain in school.  When symptoms of a communicable disease are noticed, the school will contact the parent so that the student may be referred to the child’s physician for diagnosis and/or care.

Re-admission following a communicable disease must be in accordance with the regulations of the County Health Department.  Students with skin disorders, conjunctivitis and other serious diseases must be re-admitted to school by a licensed physician or local health officer.  Children who have been absent with a fever must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Taking Medicine At School

If your child is required by the doctor to take prescribed medication during the school day, or if you wish your child to take over-the-counter medicines, please follow these steps:

(1)    Submit a written request asking that the school give this assistance.
(2)    Submit a written statement from the doctor with the dose, schedule and method of administering the medication.
(3)    Keep prescription medication in the original container. Over-the-counter medication must be labeled with the child’s name, dosage, and doctor's name and phone number.

Medical forms are available from either the School Office or the Health Office.  Students may not carry medications, including cough drops, in backpacks or on their person.  All medications must be locked up in the Health Office.
YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH (cont’d)

Consent to Treat

Pacific School Consent to Treat/Emergency forms may be found in the School Office.

Individuals must go directly to the hospital to fill out and file a Hospital Consent to Treat form for their child. The form is kept on file for seven years (Little Company) or until the date you indicate (Torrance).  It should stay in effect until your child is eighteen.  It is in effect not only when your child is at school, but also when your child is with a babysitter.

Staying Inside For Health Reasons

Children who must stay indoors during any normal, out-of-doors periods must have a note from a parent or legal guardian.  If your child needs prolonged periods of classroom confinement, you must send a statement from your family physician.
 

GOOD NUTRITION HELPS LEARNING
We ask that your child have a nourishing breakfast each morning before school.  For lunch, students can buy a healthy school lunch or bring their own. You can find out what we are serving by checking the school menus sent home each month.  The new “Brown Bag Lunch” service is also available for $5.

School Lunches
Lunches can be purchased daily at school for $2.25.  Lunch tickets (20 lunches) are available from the office for $42.00.  Please send a check, payable to MBUSD, in an envelope with your child. Write your child's name and room number on the check. Lunch tickets cannot be transferred and there are no refunds.

The hot, nutritionally balanced lunch includes milk. If your child cannot drink milk, we need a written notice from your child's doctor to substitute juice.

Free Or Reduced Price Lunches
Free or reduced price lunches ($8.00 for twenty) are available to children who qualify under the income/family size guidelines. Application forms are sent home at the beginning of the year and are available in the school office.  All information is strictly confidential.

Going Home For Lunch
Your child may go home for lunch, if you let us know in writing.  If your child does not go home every day for lunch, but you wish him or her to do so on a given day, please send a written note for that day.

Lunches From Home
If you choose to send a lunch from home with your child, please do not send soft drinks, non-biodegradable, squeeze-type sweet drinks, or drinks in cans or bottles. Please do not send candy.  We encourage nutritious lunches.  If your child brings lunch from home, milk or orange juice may be purchased for 50 cents.

We encourage independence at Pacific School.  From 3rd-5th grades, parents should consider teaching their children to prepare their own healthy lunches.  Please take time to help your child learn this critical skill.  We acknowledge this effort with a special sticker!

KSR-HELPR....CHARACTER COUNTS!

The goal of Pacific School's KSR-HELPR program is to teach every student self-respect, self-discipline, respect for others, and positive social interactions.  The key factors that constitute a successful discipline program include:

1.    Positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior;
2.    Limit-setting and clear, reasonable expectations;
3.    Appropriate instructional techniques and good classroom management;
4.    Planning, consistency and accountability; and
5.    Logical consequences for inappropriate behavior.

To establish an effective discipline program, it is essential that students understand what behavior is expected of them.  The most effective discipline occurs when the home and the school work together.

Pacific School's Standards And Expectations For Behavior

The behavior program at Pacific School is positive and proactive. The entire teaching staff including teachers, teaching assistants, cafeteria and playground supervisors, office staff and volunteers, will praise and reward appropriate behavior.  Everyone will try to "Catch the students being GOOD!"

These expectations are summarized by eight simple rules, which are represented by the letters "KSR-HELPR”:

        1.    Be Kind
        2.    Be Safe
        3.     Be Responsible
        4.    Be Honest
        5.    Be Empathetic
        6.    Be Logical
        7.    Be Positive
        8.    Be Respectful

 

KSR-HELPR....CHARACTER COUNTS!

In The Classroom
While individual classroom rules may vary somewhat, the following expectations for behavior will be consistent in all classrooms.  The students will be expected to:
1.     Treat everyone with respect;
2.    Remain on task;
3.    Follow adult directions;
4.    Raise hand and wait to be acknowledged; and
5.    Use appropriate voice control.

The Yard
At all times Pacific students will:
1.    Follow adult directions and procedures.
2.    Go to the office only with a note or pass.
3.    Stop playing and walk quietly to assigned areas of the classroom when the bell rings.  Students have two to three minutes to reach their classroom from the playground.
4.    Walk in the hallways and on ramps. (Watch out for the poles!)
5.    Play in supervised areas.  Remain on the Pacific campus at all times; retrieve balls with permission only.
6.    Use playground equipment properly.
7.    Keep hands and feet to themselves; no hands-on.
8.    No fighting. Student who initiate or participate in a fight will be suspended.
9.    Use appropriate language. No name-calling, swearing, rude comments or gestures.  (No warnings – red cards will be given.)
10.Help keep Pacific School clean and beautiful.  A student who willingly defaces any part of school property may be suspended. Keep Pacific shining bright!

In The Cafeteria
While in the cafeteria or at the outdoor lunch tables (Café Pacific), students will:
1.    Walk in lines, standing politely in serving lines.
2.    Use proper manners and table etiquette.
3.    Use appropriate voice control. Speak softly, as if in a restaurant.
4.    Consume lunches and drinks in the lunch area. Students may take as much time as they need to finish their lunch. Minimums: 15 minutes (grades 1-3) and 10 minutes (grades 4-5).
5.    Clean their own area.  Show pride in their school by picking up litter, even if it's not theirs!
6.    Walk to the playgrounds according to the correct route.


Rewards and Consequences
Students who behave appropriately have the satisfaction of knowing that "In my head and in my heart, I have done the right thing." Students will then feel proud of themselves. Students are recognized for appropriate and exemplary behavior through verbal praise, Honor Awards and Gold Cards.

Gold Cards are awarded to students for appropriate and exemplary behavior before and after school and during lunch and recess periods. The students may take these Gold Cards home or place them in the Gold Card boxes in the cafeteria. There is one Gold Card box for each grade level. Prizes are awarded in Gold Card drawings held once a month.

Students who fail to follow yard and cafeteria rules will receive a Red Card.  The Red Card system operates on a cumulative basis over the entire year.

1st Red Card:    Student warning, parent letter
2nd Red Card:    2 days lunch detention, parent letter
3rd Red Card:    5 days lunch detention, office conference, parent letter

A student on lunch detention eats lunch in a restricted area and remains there during the play period following lunch. 

Pacific School's rules are explained to all students in a school-wide KSR-HELPR Standards and Expectations Assembly.  Gold Cards are awarded from the first day of school.  Gold Cards are awarded frequently and Red Cards very infrequently.  One Red Card simply means that a student has made a mistake. 

Students are encouraged to be open and honest with their parents, sharing successes and lessons learned.  "Smart people learn from their mistakes.”

If a child receives a red card, he/she is expected to tell a parent that same day.  Hopefully, parents will listen calmly to the admission.  Our
goal is ongoing open communication between parents and children, as well as respect for the teachers and noon supervisors.

Academic Honesty/Internet Safety
Everyone is aware of the potential dangers of inappropriate content on the Internet. It is critical that we help our children use home computers safely and appropriately. Students in the upper grades are increasingly making use of home computers for research and class projects, and this use will continue to increase as the students go on to MBMS and Mira Costa.

 Please discuss responsible and safe computer use with your children, supervise their computer use, and consider installing content controls on all home computers. You may also wish to set up your computer in a central location.  The following websites offer information about risks and ways to protect your computer and your children:
    www.getnetwise.org    www.safekids.com
    www.bsafehome.com    www.cybersitter.com   

Please review with your children appropriate use of research materials and the importance of creating original work while using those materials. Review their research materials as you help them with a project.  Be sure that your child's final product is truly his/her own work. One of the elements of Depth and Complexity for our students in PEP-Grade 5 is Ethics. Help your child be an honest academic!

Nondiscrimination/Harassment
District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, including harassment, threats, and intimidation, with respect to gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic group, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other personal preference or characteristic.  The School Board prohibits intimidation or harassment of any student by any employee, student or other person in the district.  Staff shall be alert and immediately responsive to student conduct which may interfere with another student's ability to participate in or benefit from school services, activities or privileges.  Teachers will discuss this policy with their students in age-appropriate ways.  Mrs. Janet Schwabe, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, MBUSD, is the designated Coordinator for non-discrimination. 

Conclusion
All students at Pacific School have the right to a positive, warm, and nurturing environment where they can learn and play safely and comfortably.  Students are encouraged to care about others and to demonstrate school spirit and pride.  Our goal is to develop students who have the highest expectations for behavior and academic achievement.  These students will have strong self-esteem.  Supporting these goals is the greatest challenge of the school and home together.
 

PACIFIC’S RULES AND SERVICES

Pacific Playground Rules 2006-2007

All students are provided with the following playground rules at the beginning of the school year:

1.    Grades 1-5, before school, all students are to be on the south playground until the 8:10 am bell.  Students who linger in the halls and around the classrooms will receive Red Cards.

2.    Students should use logical common sense while playing on the playground.  No walking on the tops of the walls.  No playing on the hills, or in the ice plant.

3.    Inappropriate language is an automatic Red Card.  No warnings!

4.    Swings:
•    No jumping off swings.  No “death drops.”
•    One person on a swing at a time.
•    When waiting to use the swings, grades 1-3, count to 33, grades
4-5, count to 66
•    1 swing = back and forth once

5.    Slides and playground structures:
•    Walk up the steps only.  Do not walk down.
•    No pushing or shoving on the steps.
•    Slide down the slide only, on your gluteus maximus.  Do not walk up. 
•    Slide one person at a time.  Use logic:  KSR-HELPR.

6.    Students must play only on the Pacific School playground.  If a ball goes over a fence, the student should go to the teacher for help.

7.    Students should hold basketballs and soccer balls in the hall at all times to and from recess and lunch.  Ball bouncing is for the playground only, not the hallways, patios, or cafeteria.

8.    All students going to the fields must walk.  The ramps are uneven and sandy.  Speed contributes to accidents.

9.    Playground Activities:
a.    Soccer        f.  Swings
b.    Basketball        g. Climbing Apparatus
c.    Tetherball        h. Handball       
d.    Four Square        i.  Hackey Sack
e.    Jump rope and Double Dutch   

Students must remember equipment before leaving the classroom!

10.    Pacific School is fortunate to have large play areas.  Students should use them well by taking good care of all playground equipment.  Rubber balls are for throwing, not kicking.  Students may kick soccer balls only.  Students who lose or damage playground equipment will be liable for repayment. 

11.    Students are expected to: Play safely.  Be kind to others.  Have fun!

12.    Drinking fountain:
•    Wait politely in line for drinks, keeping your hands to yourself. 
•    Drinks may be a long as “1 alligator, 2 alligator,     3 alligator,
4 alligator, 5 alligator.”
 
13.    KSR-HELPR (These are rules for LIFE!)

Toys, Skates, Radios, Etc.

We do not permit students to bring toys, skates, skateboards, roller blades, radios or sports equipment (other than baseball gloves) to school.  Knives or sharp objects of any type are prohibited on school grounds; their possession can result in suspension or expulsion.  If your child brings any of these items to the school, you will be called to come to the office to pick up the item.

Please do not bring pets to school unless prior arrangements have been made with the classroom teacher.

Dress Code
We request that students wear clean, appropriate clothing to school.  Students should begin the school day clean and well-groomed. If we feel that your child's grooming or clothing detracts from the educational program in the school, we may send your child home and ask that he or she return properly prepared for school. 

We request that students wear rubber-soled shoes appropriate for P.E. activities. This is for their own safety in the classroom and out on the playground.  Please, no flip-flops, sandals, jellies, shoes with wheels, cowboy boots, UGG-type boots or smooth-soled dress shoes. 

T-shirts with inappropriate sayings or graphics, cutout tank tops, muscle shirts, crop tops, and short shorts are not allowed.  Caps, scarves, and hats may be worn on the playground, but not in the classroom or cafeteria.  Hats should not be worn backwards.  Please, no bare midriffs or visible underwear for children (and parent volunteers, too).
 
Student Use Of Telephone
Students may use the telephone on an emergency basis only.  Cell phones may not be used during school hours.  Students may not use the phone to ask permission to go home with a friend.  These arrangements should be made ahead of time.  Students are encouraged to go home after school to obtain answers to questions.  If you need to get an emergency message to your child after he or she has arrived at school, please call the office.  The office staff can take a message that will be delivered to your child at an appropriate time that will not disrupt the learning process.  We urge you to use this service only in extreme cases.

Parties / Birthdays / Holidays
Parties:  Class parties are held during the regular school year.  The grade level teacher teams work with the room parents to organize these parties. Room parents may contact parents for items needed and/or additional donations.

Birthday Celebrations:  At Pacific, the teachers arrange various activities on children's birthdays - singing to them, special seats, special privileges, etc. Please do not send any treats, cookies, doughnuts, balloons, etc. for your child's birthday.  Many of our children have medical conditions, food allergies, and/or financial constraints and cannot participate in these activities. Additionally, our District has set strict policies about food in the classroom.

"Create a Legacy and Donate a Book" to the library or your child's classroom.  Many parents have chosen to dedicate a book to the classroom for birthdays.  Special birthday bookplates are provided.

Holiday gifts for teachers:  We suggest that parents consider purchasing items from the classroom wish lists instead of individual teacher gifts.  The wish lists are distributed by the room parents.

Halloween Costumes:  For the Halloween parade, the PTA and SSC request that children do not dress as violent characters.  We ask that all Halloween costumes be appropriate for all children.

Individual Party Invitations:  Please do not distribute invitations to children's individual parties on school grounds during school hours.  Thank you for respecting the feelings of all children.
 
Lost-And-Found

Please label your child's jackets, sweaters and lunchboxes with his or her name.  Lost items fill our Lost-and-Found containers every year.  If there were labels on those items, they could be reunited with their owners more easily.  Sorry, we cannot assume responsibility for damage or loss of any personal items.  The items left in the Lost-and-Found are given to the Salvation Army or our partner, 68th Street School, in mid-December and at the end of June.

TRANSPORTATION

It’s Cool to Walk to School!

Parents, please encourage your child to walk to and from school with a buddy or a parent. It is proven that walking helps improve academic ability, creates a healthy life style, helps our environment and reduces congestion around our school.

Every Friday is Walk-to-School-Day in conjunction with Pride Day.  Please make this a tradition in your household.

If your child walks to school, please share these safety tips with him or her.  Please teach your child:
1.    Not to talk to strangers;
2.    The safest route to school;
3.    The meaning of traffic lights;
4.    To walk, not run, across the street;
5.    To walk directly to and from school;
6.    To use the crosswalk and always look both ways; and  
7.     To follow the directions of the crossing guards. The City of Manhattan Beach stations crossing guards at busy intersections.

Riding Bikes/Scooters To School

Third through fifth grade students, with parent permission, may ride bicycles/scooters to and from school.  A child who rides a vehicle to school should:
1.    Always wear a safety helmet;
2.    Know the safest route to and from school;
3.    Learn the laws of bike riding;
4.    Use a lock on the vehicle when parked in the area provided;
5.    Check the vehicle to be sure it is in good working order; and
6.    Use the bike path from Pacific Avenue to the bike rack outside Dr. Norvell’s office.

Bicycles/scooters are to be walked when crossing the street and at all times on the school sidewalks.  Students who do not walk their bicycles/scooters may lose the privilege of bringing them to school.

All vehicles must be parked in the bike racks and secured with locks. The school is not responsible for missing bicycles/scooters.

Skateboards, roller blades and shoes with wheels are NOT allowed on campus.

Parents, please note that children who ride bikes are required to wear a bicycle safety helmet.  Our "Rad Rider" Gold Card encourages children to wear them.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

If you use the drop-off/pick-up lane, please drop-off and pick-up your children only in The ZONE at the 14th and John Street cul-de-sac behind the cafeteria.  When using the cul-de-sac, please have your children ready to leave the car when you reach the driveway into the school.  Please help to keep the line moving so that all the children will reach their classrooms safely and on time.  Especially 4th and 5th graders, please consider using the gate at Center Field on Poinsettia Avenue.  There is a new white loading zone for your convenience.  Use that area to drop off your children and they can then safely walk up the sidewalks or across the field to school.

A no-stop policy in The ZONE has been established for pick-up.  This means cars will not be allowed to stop unless a child is entering the vehicle.  If your child has not been released from class and is not waiting for you at The ZONE, you must drive through and allow other cars to pull up.  In other words, there is no incentive to come early and park your car in the pick-up lane. Peppers and Kindergartners are dismissed on 17th Street.

The parking spaces in front of the school on Pacific Avenue are for staff only.  Volunteers may park on campus at the parking lot on 17th Street west of Center Field. Please read the complete “Parking and Zone Etiquette” sent home in September and also available in the office and on the website.
 
Field Trip Transportation Guidelines

Students participating in approved field trips must be transported to and from the activity on school district buses or other district-authorized bus transportation.  Students may not participate in a field trip unless a Parent Permission Form has been signed by the parent and returned to the school.  Parents providing additional supervision for the field trip are encouraged to ride the bus as well.

Parents wishing to transport their own children to an off-campus activity must check the child out of school and assume full responsibility for their child.  The parent must supervise the child at the activity and transport the child home at the conclusion of the activity.  Parents may not transport other children.  These guidelines are for insurance and safety purposes.

Parents who volunteer to supervise students on fieldtrips are asked to please keep a watchful eye on the children at all times.  Praise good behavior and correct any inappropriate behavior.  Parents are required not to use their cell phones while supervising children.

Bus Riding Safety Rules

Please help us to ensure your child's safety by teaching him or her to:
1.    Stay seated at all times while on the bus, using quiet voices;
2.    Follow the directions of the bus driver.